How do i Get the dreamed mirror finish?

[Jw7054]

Okay so I was giving a knife making kit a few years back. And like most projects, I started and was all excited to build my own knife. But as it would have, something got in my way. I was working on polishing it and I will say I have come a ways from the finish it came with but it's no were near perfect. So I started with 400 grit for probably 5-10 minutes(only working on one side on the top above the part were it drops down going towards the sharp edge of the blade). Then I moved to 600 for a few minutes. Then 800 then 1500. Then I went out to my barn and got the dremel out and polished that thing up. I go and wipe that thin layer of Polish of then blade and just not very good. No were NEAR the mirror finish I was hoping for there are still some of the factory deep, cutting/sanding what ever they are, marks and it seems like all the scratches from the sand paper. So I am trying to keep the scratches go as straight as possible with the blade, should I be varying the pattern or am I doing it right the way I am? Also, to get those tough factory cut/scratches out, how low can I go? 200 grit? 150 grit? Even 100 or 80 grit?? This is my first knife build project but it still has to look real good and function. So any tips, tricks, or other is appreciated.

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[Allsmiles]

When we polished parts for my motorcycle, we wet sanded up to 2000 grit (WalMart auto section) to get all the scratches out. Then put in on a buffing wheel with 3 or 4 different compounds and pads. It took a while and was messy, nasty work. End result was very nice and looked like polished billet. I would ask one of the knife builders what they are using if they will share the information. Either way, I'm sure that time and energy will be required to get a mirror finish.

 

[sharpeblades]

Ime not a big fan of a high polish blade.But I do a few.You can start with any grit you want but you have to get the proceding scratchs out as you move up in grit. I usually go up to 2000 grit then it only takes a very lite buffing

 

[synspeed]

Ime not a big fan of a high polish blade.But I do a few.You can start with any grit you want but you have to get the proceding scratchs out as you move up in grit. I usually go up to 2000 grit then it only takes a very lite buffing

This. Also, move in different directions with each change in grit. If you went with the length of the blade on 120, go spine to edge with 220. The lengthwise with 320, etc.

 

[Allsmiles]

Looks like the experts have given you their wisdom.

 

[IceColdEric]

You can start with any grit you want but you have to get the proceding scratchs out as you move up in grit.

Pay special attention to this advice!